Popular Post Marty Backe Posted September 21, 2015 Popular Post Report Share Posted September 21, 2015 In this video I demonstrate how to quickly upgrade some Harbor Freight aluminum bar clamps, turning $10 clamps into $30 clamps. This is a technique I learned from Paul Sellers. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted September 21, 2015 Report Share Posted September 21, 2015 Marty, thanks for sharing. Paul Sellers is cool and I've seen many of his videos, but I probably wouldn't have seen this if you hadn't have posted it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodenskye Posted September 21, 2015 Report Share Posted September 21, 2015 Marty great tip, I have a couple and never felt they were solid, but I am going to have to give this a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemenifee Posted September 21, 2015 Report Share Posted September 21, 2015 thanks Marty, great info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted September 21, 2015 Report Share Posted September 21, 2015 I'm in need for more clamps and don't have allot to spend..Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted September 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2015 Thanks everyone for the comments :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Gilbert Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Great tip . I will have to do this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Cool video marty. I have 6 of these. The major issue I've had with them is the spring falling out. Makes it a pita to use after that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted October 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Cool video marty. I have 6 of these. The major issue I've had with them is the spring falling out. Makes it a pita to use after that.Thanks.I haven't had any issues with the spring (yet). I wonder if stretching the spring would help or even epoxying the ends of the spring so it can't come out. Something along those lines. I'll have to keep a watchful eye on those springs. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 After loosing 3 springs, I ended up chopping those down and setting them into a permanent clamping form for cutting boards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Capwn Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 Picked up a couple of these after seeing this video - looking forward to tweaking these generic clamps into something a bit more worthwhile. As an aside, is there a significant benefit of these bar clamps over say pipe clamps? The flat rail of the clamp, I presume? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted October 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 Picked up a couple of these after seeing this video - looking forward to tweaking these generic clamps into something a bit more worthwhile. As an aside, is there a significant benefit of these bar clamps over say pipe clamps? The flat rail of the clamp, I presume?They are much lighter than many other types of bar clamps, and certainly pipe clamps. If you don't need a lot of clamping pressure (with good joinery you usually shouldn't), using a bunch of these clamps will make the clamped assembly much lighter (for moving around the shop while drying). I also like the flat bar surface for resting spacers on top that raise the work above the clamp. And of course they are 3-4 times cheaper than other clamps of equal length.Good luck with your modifications. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJA Posted November 8, 2015 Report Share Posted November 8, 2015 Hi everyone, I like the rubber pad idea, how do you prevent glue ooze-out from coating the clamps? Wax paper?or tape?Oh, by the way i liked your video. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post gee-dub Posted October 26, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 26, 2016 I ended up with a couple 48" HF clamps somehow; I honestly don't recall where they came from. As Marty states, they were so flimsy they got tossed up in the rafters (they almost went straight into the recycle bin ). Long story short, I came across them while cleaning up and remembered this thread. My recent project left me with quite a bit of thin, long strips. They were a bit too small so I laminated a couple strips lengthwise to make blanks. There was a 1/2" cove bit in the router table so I zipped the blanks across it as opposed to cutting them smaller. Mine fit pretty snug but nothing a tap or two on the ground didn't take care of. A big thanks to Marty since if I hadn't seen this thread, these babies would be buried in the scrap bin at some recycling joint by tomorrow. Seems like they may actually be useful . 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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